PHOTOS: Warner puts Australia in control at WACA

Australia elect to bowl

David Warner smashed the fastest Test century by an opening batsman as Australia battered India on the first day of the third Test on Friday, dismissing the tourists for 161 before racing to within 12 runs of that tally.

Hilfenhaus claims first wicket

Ryan Harris, recalled to the side in place of the injured James Pattinson, was handed the brand new Kookaburra ball in the bright morning sun but it was Ben Hilfenhaus who made the breakthrough.

The big paceman fired an outswinger down to Sehwag, who had yet to score, in the fourth over of the day and the opener was tempted to go for it, got an edge and Ricky Ponting snapped up the catch in the slips.

Dravid bowled yet again

The morning session was punctuated with loud lbw appeals but Dravid, famously known as The Wall of Indian Cricket, continued his recent trend of being bowled out.

Peter Siddle was the last of the Australian paceman to get a bowl but made an immediate impact by firing a yorker through Dravid's defence, the ball coming off the bat, onto the Indian's boots and hitting the stumps. He had made nine.

It was the fourth time in five innings in the series that Dravid, the second most prolific batsman in Test cricket, had been bowled - the fifth if you count the Siddle dismissal that was ruled out for a no ball in the first test in Melbourne.

Kohli-Laxman launch mini fightback

Following the departure of Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir at the cost of 73 runs by lunch, Virat Kohli and VVS Laxman launched something of a fightback by putting on 67 for the fifth wicket.

Warner's century included 13 fours

The 25-year-old Warner, playing just his fifth Test, lit up the afternoon as he put the Indian bowlers to the sword and was cheered to rafters when brought up the hundred with a huge six, one of three in an innings which also included 13 fours.

Shots flowed from Warner's blade like smooth butter off a hot knife. He broke the hold of Zaheer Khan by punching him thrice through the mid-off for boundaries.

Cowan played perfect foil to Warner

While the southpaw went about his business with pomp, Cowan was an admirable foil at the other end.

Warner sailed into the 90s when he welcomed Vinay Kumar in his second spell with another straight hit and blasted a six two deliveries later to reach his century off 69 balls with 13 fours and three sixes.